After strolling up to the third floor of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art via its stunning glass staircase, entering Fresco can feel like stepping into another world. The main dining room boasts wall-to-wall windows that provide panoramic views of downtown Madison. During warmer months, Fresco has plenty of outdoor seating in the Sculpture Garden.

The essence of Fresco is its menu – a thoughtfully prepared combination of fresh, seasonal offerings and contemporary twists on the classics. Fresco’s chefs have a deep appreciation for fresh, local ingredients, sourced directly when possible from the Dane County Farmers’ Market, just two blocks away on the Capitol Square.

Outdoor seating requests are accepted upon check in on a first come, first serve basis due to the possibility of inclement weather, and the limited amount of outdoor tables. Thank you for your understanding and we are excited to have you dine with us.

There was an issue with the kitchen, so entrees where not available, but they more than made up for it. The food was amazing! The service was excellent! We left more than satisfied. We are going back again before leaving town!

This is a stylish restaurant/bar that befits its location in a contemporary art museum, but as a place to dine, it is not great. Despite the outdoor area, the main restaurant feels cramped and the kitchen fills it with the heat and smells of frying. The food was expensive and just so-so. Drink here, eat elsewhere.

Enjoyable. Dinner was delicious and service was great. Dessert was lacking in flavor and we tried three of them. But for any dinner out, this was good and if kicking it up a notch, it can be romantic or special.

No place better in Madison to eat alfresco, fantastic outdoor dining with awesome view. The food was great. I had the duck which had a wonderful combination of components that all worked so well together. My guest had the tagliatelle which she loved. While the food was great, the service was lacking. I ordered a glass of wine before my entree was served but didn't get it until I had completed my entree. Three in our group arrived after two of us had already arrived and it took 15 minutes to get their drink order. I wish the level of service matched the food and ambience.

Great view and service. Food was so so on taste and for the money not a bargain by any means. Four scallops and some corn for $25 seems a little steep to me. The gnocchi was a nice portion. Brussel sprouts were delicious.

Very slow service for a Sunday night. Our waiter apologized many times and was able to subtract one of our three entrees from our bill . All of the meals were very cold after waiting close to an hour. We had theatre tickets, so we did not have time for them to adjust our entrees. Very disappointing experience.

Not sure what “high top seating” means? Though we were ok with where we sat, we could hear cupboard doors banging which was a bit annoying. Our server was excellent and the food was decent. Space was tight, but understood why as to maximize space for more diners.

Service was slow and disappointed with the salmon, it took the server forever to come back to our table so by the time she got there appetite was gone, so pretty much paid for a meal that was not cooked to my expectation.

I met an old friend and her daughter to catch up over dinner. We could not have had a more lovely server. We ordered the charcuterie board as a starter which was excellent. I had the halibut entree and tiramisu for dessert. The halibut was good... The carrots not as tender as they should be. The tiramisu was too soupy, and served in a soup tureen with ice cream on top...not the way it should be. My only other complaint is how the wine was served. Either the server or a young man would show up with a tiny beaker of wine and pour it into my glass - very odd.

Our visit to Fresco was a disappointment. While the setting was nice the food was mediocre at best and certainly not worth the price. My $32.00 steak was tough and the risotto side dish was not seasoned well. We often order risotto so we have some idea of how it should be prepared. The service was merely okay. We do not plan to return.

Always a treat to come to Fresco. A little more than I would typically spend on dinner, but you absolutely get what you pay for at Fresco. We sat inside, which was far less crowded than the outdoor seating, and service was excellent. The food was superb, as always, and we had a great time.

Always consistently good. The scallops and the other fish dishes are consistently outstanding. Our new favorite in Madison. Dining on the rooftop during a sunset is also fabulous. Could use more fresh salad options to truly improve the dining options. Overall a consistently wonderful experience.